CHAPTER 20

I knew I’d grown stronger with the change, but I didn’t know I was faster. I kicked the man in the head, and he soared back, landing back first against the front door, and then dropping face down on the floor. He lifted himself to his knees and held his hand out, signaling me to stop. That was when I saw his face.

“I’m sorry—for showing up like this—unannounced,” Samuel, my biological father, said panting.

“What did you do to her?” I asked accusingly.

“Nothing. She fainted when she saw me.”

I kneeled beside Claire and lifted her head onto my lap.

“You shouldn’t have come,” Galilea said. “You’re putting Claire and Isis in more danger than they already are.”

“That’s why I’m here,” Samuel said, standing now. “To protect my family.”

Galilea rolled her eyes at him. “If you think you can come here and—”

“Wait a minute. I got this one.” I cut into Galilea’s rant. “First of all, ‘your family’? I don’t recall you being around for the past eighteen years. Secondly, exactly what do you think you can you do for us now? Do you know what I’m up against? I’m half your size, and I just took you out. And I don’t even know how to fight. How can your presence possibly benefit us?”

“Yeah.” Galilea crossed her arms. “What she said.”

“You caught me off guard. I wasn’t expecting my daughter to round kick me in the face.”

“Your pregnant daughter, might I add,” Galilea said. “Whom I don’t think should be putting herself in any kind of violent predicament in her condition.”

“I know about the pregnancy,” Samuel said.

“How?” I asked. There was no way he could know I was pregnant. Unless… Was he was empathic like Nyx? I hadn’t stuck around long enough when I met him in Greece to find out.

“It’s why I’m here. Among other things.” Samuel lowered himself to the floor, next to Claire. He touched Claire’s neck with two fingers. “Do you have a kitchen towel and ice? A cold compress will help her feel better as she comes to.”

“Galilea?” I glanced over at her. “Would you… please?”

Galilea gave Samuel the stink eye. “I don’t trust you.”

“Believe me, the feeling is mutual,” he told her.

“How did you find out I’m pregnant?” I asked.

“I’ll get to that. But first, I think we should tend to her.” He glanced down at Claire.

Galilea didn’t budge.

“I guess I’ll get that towel and ice myself.” I gently set Claire’s head on the floor and stood up. “And for the record, I don’t trust you either, Samuel.” I went to the kitchen and prepared the makeshift cold compress, promptly bringing it back to the living room. Samuel took it from me. I lowered myself next to Claire.

He patted Claire’s forehead with the icy towel. “You know,” he said, “you don’t know me well enough to have an opinion of me.”

“You know,” I said, “you should’ve thought of that eighteen years ago.”

“I left Claire because it was the only way to protect you,” Samuel snapped. “I’m sorry.” He handed me the cold compress. “I didn’t want to leave. The moment you were conceived, I was terrified for your mother. For you.”

“The moment I was conceived?” I squinted at him. He nodded as he stood up. “The exact moment?”

“Yes. And I knew you were pregnant when I sensed you in my office in Greece.”

“How could you have?” Galilea stepped closer to us. “Unless… Samuel isn’t your given name, is it?” He shook his head. “Then who are you?”

“My birth name is Amadeus.”

Galilea’s jaw dropped. She turned to me. “No wonder you got knocked up so fast. This makes so much sense now.”

“What does?” I asked.

“He’s one of the gods of fertility,” Galilea said.

“And?” I waited for an explanation, but Galilea looked like she was having an internal conversation with herself and stopped speaking.

“Your grandmother—my mother—was Cytherea,” Samuel told me. “There’s a likeness of her in you.”

“She does look like her,” Galilea said, surprise still present in her face. “How did I miss that?”

“I’ve never heard of Cytherea,” I said

“Because Cytherea,” Samuel explained, “is better known as Aphrodite.”

“And Samuel—Amadeus—is a fertility god,” said Galilea. “It’s no wonder Eros salivates when he sees you. A pretty face, pheromones oozing out of your pores, eggs falling out of your ovaries by the gazingamillions…” She gasped. “No wonder the birth control didn’t work for you.”

“Eros?” Samuel raised his brow, a look of displeasure on his face as he said the name.

“This baby doesn’t belong to Eros, if it’s what you’re thinking,” I said.

“I know,” Samuel said. “It’d be impossible since Eros is unable to have children.”

“Eros is sterile? No way.” Galilea’s eyes creased. “But he’s the god of love.”

“You know about that, too?” I asked Samuel.

“Yes,” he said. “It was I who took his fertility many years ago. It wasn’t by my judgment,” Samuel explained. “The Council sent me. But I’d like to know how you know about this when no one else does.”

Now I understood the reason behind Eros’s obvious loathing toward Samuel when they saw each other in Greece. I didn’t blame Eros for hating Samuel.

“It doesn’t matter how I know,” I said. “Listen, I’d appreciate it if you don’t tell my mom about us meeting in—” Claire moaned and shifted her head. I ran the cold towel over her forehead. “Mom, you awake?”

“Yes,” she muttered, her eyes closed.

“Would you like some water?” Galilea asked her.

“No.” Claire squinted as she opened her eyes. “Galilea, when did you get here?”

“Just now,” I said. “While you were unconscious. How do you feel?”

“Dizzy.” She blinked as she looked up at me, and I quickly glanced at Samuel, who I now wished I would’ve told to leave. Claire rubbed her forehead with one hand and asked, “What happened?”

“You answered the door and…” I said, glancing at Samuel again, “…and well, he—”

“You fainted,” Samuel said as he kneeled next to Claire. “I’m sorry to have surprised you like this.”

Claire stiffened, her eyes unblinking and glued to Samuel.

“Are you going to faint again?” I asked. “Mom?”

She shook her head, slowly, and I put hand across her chest, hugging her, as if it were enough to shield her, protect her from Samuel.

“Do you want to sit up?” I asked.

She nodded without looking at me.

“I can help you to the couch, if you like,” Samuel offered. He held out his hand, and she took it. “You’ll be more comfortable there than on the floor.”

“You’re…” Claire said. “You’re…here.” Sitting now, Claire glanced at me. “Do you know who he is?”

I nodded.

“Oh.” She raised her brow in surprise, and then turned her attention to Samuel. “This is embarrassing, but… I—I don’t know your name.”

“Samuel,” he said.

“I’ve waited a very long time—” Claire glanced at their joined hands, and then up to his face again “—to know your name. Samuel.”

“And I’ve waited a very long time to see you again, Claire.” He smiled at her. “Far too long.”

My mother and my biological father stared mutely at each other for what I felt was longer than necessary. It made me uncomfortable and irked me at the same time. He’d left us. He’d left her—alone and with a monster in her stomach. And why was she staring at him so lustfully? Gross!

“Excuse me,” I said, removing Claire’s hand from Samuel’s grasp. I helped her stand and walked her to the couch. “Do you want me to call Dr. Jameson to come have a look at you?”

“I’m a doctor,” Samuel said. “She looks fine to me.” He looked her over. “Perfect, to be honest.”

Claire blushed. She combed her fingers through her hair. “I must look a mess.”

Are they flirting?

“Not at all,” Samuel said, taking the space next to her on the couch. “You’re stunning, as always. I’m surprised it wasn’t me who fainted at the door when I saw you.”

Claire giggled.

Flirt alert! I let out a huff of air.

“Hey,” I pointed to them. “Stop that—both of you. Right now.”

Samuel and Claire shot me a puzzled look.

“What?” Claire asked.

“Isis, dear.” Galilea took my arm and pulled me away. “Let’s give them some time to catch up, yeah?”

“No,” I objected.

“Yes.” Galilea tugged harder. “C’mon. Be a good girl for your mommy and daddy.”

I scowled at her all the way up to my room.

“So here’s the deal.” Galilea shut the door. “You know how I said I didn’t trust Samuel?”

“Yeah, which is why I’m very confused right now. Why did you make me leave my mother downstairs alone with him?”

“Yeah, so, I changed my mind. I trust him now. So be nice to him. Call him ‘Dad’ or ‘Old Man’ or whatever. Just make him feel welcome.”

“I can’t believe what you’re suggesting. You’re making no sense to me right now. Whatsoever.”

“His being here means more manpower for us. What if Turpis attack again?” She pushed her hands out, palms up, as if raising the invisible words of her justification. “We need him, Isis.”

“No, we don’t. I don’t need him and neither does my mom.” I checked the time on my phone. “I want to get back to the estate. Back to David. And I want Samuel—or whatever his name is—out of here before we leave. But first, I’m going to change.” I walked into the closet. Galilea followed me in. “The nerve of him coming here!”

“Isis, listen to me…” Galilea said as I rummaged through the clothes in my closet. “Are you listening?”

“No.”

“You’re impossible.” She gave me a light shove, and then walked out of the closet, mumbling under her breath.

I shuffled through every article of clothing on the hangers. My jeans no longer fit, so I had no choice but to wear leggings and a once loose-fitting shirt—now too snug, but it’d have to do. I walked back into the bedroom.

“What?” I asked. “Why are you looking at me like you want to hurt me?”

“Because I do.” Galilea’s eyes shot daggers at me. “You have a really bad habit of not listening to me. I’m always trying to look out for you, and you’re an ungrateful little brat in return.”

I was doing it again. Being a bad friend.

“You’re right. I am, and I’m sorry.” I sighed. “Tell me the reason you want Samuel to stay.”

“Because he’s your father. No one will ever protect you or fight for you like your parents.”

I couldn’t argue with her point. Heck, I was willing to kill demons for the baby inside me. But, lately, something about Galilea was off, and I wanted to know what it was.

“Is it the only reason?” I asked.

“No.” Galilea looked down at her feet. “I can’t shield you for much longer, much less go head-on with demons. I overdid it when I made the town vanish. And you were right; I need to rest. Otherwise…” She met my gaze. “If I fail you, we all die. That’s the one thing the Stones do show me. I can’t see past that.”